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Run a dehumidifier in your house to get rid of the musty smell, as moisture can create an unpleasant odor. Clutter, dust, and pet hair can also make your house smell musty, so it’s important to clean as often as possible. Inspect your house for mold, because it’s dangerous and can make your home smell musty.
What Causes a Home To Smell Musty?
In this post, we'll discuss sources of musty smells in the home and how to deal with them. Since mold and mildew need moisture to thrive, lessening the humidity level in a home can help keep mildew under control. To gauge the moisture level in your home, get a hygrometer or humidity sensor. Some HVAC systems have dehumidifiers as part of the unit, or you can get a free-standing dehumidifier. Keep the dehumidifier clean and regularly empty the water-collection bin. Musty smells in homes can be caused by a range of issues, from improperly dried linens to dampness and mold.
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Moisture and still air lingering in dark crevices around your home create a welcoming environment for the growth of mold and mildew. When the spores begin to multiply, they emit gasses that our noses can detect. A top mold removal company is able to not only remove mold to address the existing growth, but it can also restore areas that have been damaged. These professionals use specialized equipment and techniques to identify the extent of the mold, remove contaminated materials, and ensure that the living spaces are once again safe. They will also take measures to ensure that mold does not regrow, such as fixing leaks and using dehumidifiers in high-humidity areas.
Fix any water leaks
Troublesome windows and doors will leak whenever it rains, and cracked or leaky pipes will continue to cause problems until you replace them. If your cold-water pipes sweat, you can insulate them with pipe wrap. There are a number of causes of musty smells, and while some are simply annoying, others can indicate a dangerous problem.
No matter the cause, a musty smell is often worrisome and should always be investigated. That said, it’s a necessary evil, and your house will smell much better if you keep up with it. Dust every surface and wipe down your counters to get rid of many of the culprits causing the musty smell. You don’t necessarily need to open every door, but you should open the door to musty rooms. At first, the smell will spread, but it will eventually fade as the moisture and dust leaves. Put air fresheners or purifiers in musty-smelling rooms and replace the smell with something pleasant.
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Letting some fresh air into the house is not only good at getting rid of the musty stench, but it’s also good for your health. Cracking open a few windows improves your home’s ventilation and prevents the growth of mold. If you have portable fans, let them run through the rooms too for even more freshness.
Or, hire a professional if you think it's hiding under wallpaper and fear that removing it will lead to a massive release of spores. Throw away any moldy absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet. Mold may be difficult or impossible to remove entirely from those materials.
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Use odor absorbers
Once you find any areas with mold or mildew, do some deep cleaning in and around the affected area. Being able to identify whether it’s mold or mildew will determine how you clean. If you notice mold growing on the walls or wallpaper, it’s best to try and clean it off as soon as you can.
If it dries up or the recycling goes on its way, not a problem. If it hangs out in your house too long, that's going to stink. Whatever kind of mold you have, if you have more than 10 square feet of it, the Environmental Protection Agency advises against remediation on your own.
Reducing humidity can be done with a dehumidifier, but simply opening windows every morning for half an hour after you wake up can reduce humidity. Luckily, there are plenty of cleaning tips that can help you stay on top of household cleaning without too much effort. Severe leaks in the foundation may require excavating outside and applying a waterproofing membrane. Otherwise, you can coat the interior of the foundation with a waterproofing treatment. As a pet owner, you know how much joy and companionship a furry friend can bring your life.
Mold and mildew can create severe respiratory problems and can exacerbate allergies and asthma in sensitive individuals. When you notice a moisture issue, correct this as soon as possible. This prevents mold from starting, or continuing to grow and causing an odor. Fix leaks when you notice them, clean up standing water, and manage humidity with a ventilation system or dehumidifier.
Over time, this water grows bacteria, leading to musty smells in your laundry area. The new unit has a small drain hose, and I clear the stale water out every couple weeks. When you’re sure the mold has been eliminated, seal any wood surfaces with a pigmented shellac or an oil-based primer. Repaint cleaned wall surfaces with latex paint that contains a mildewcide to help stop future mold growth. If the mold area is larger than 10 square feet, you may need professional mold abatement. For small colonies of mildew on fabrics or walls, you can follow these tips to get the source of the musty smells under control.
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